Happy World Voice Day!

My observance today included hydrating, and singing classic rock in the car during a long drive.

World Voice Day is an annual, now-international event created to recognize and honor the importance of the human voice – “to share the excitement of voice science, pedagogy and the vocal arts”[1]. We use our voices to communicate from the very beginning of life, crying, laughing, and babbling before we can hold a crayon or even know a word of language. Voices carry emotion and information, speech and song. Voice is central to human identity and interaction throughout our lives, and especially important in my life and work.

We often take our voices for granted, perhaps until an illness or vocal injury limits a person’s ability to communicate, whether at home, work, school, or even on stage. As a medical voice pathologist I work with teams of dedicated professionals including physicians, allied health providers, and scientists, taking advantage of leading-edge research and technology to help people of all backgrounds enjoy better vocal health and function.

Outside of the healthcare world, I am fortunate as a communication coach to work with clients of The Speech Improvement Company in fields of business, education, and others, to enhance their expressive abilities, often drawing on the power of vocal presence and authenticity to help inform, entertain, and persuade.

Here’s to a happy, healthy World Voice Day 2017! I leave you with just a few suggestions for the care and feeding of your voice:

  • Vocal strain, screaming, whispering, coughing, and throat clearing can all affect the health of your vocal tissues and muscles, especially over the long term. Be gentle to your voice.

 

  • Our vocal fold (vocal cord) tissues are composed largely of water. Hydration will help keep your voice in good working order, as well as humidification in dry environments.

 

  • Many irritants such as smoke, allergens, and acid reflux can contribute to symptoms like hoarseness and throat irritation. Talk to your doctor or consider trying a lifestyle change.

 

  • If you think your voice could be doing more to help you communicate effectively, talk to us!

 

[1] From the World Voice Day mission statement. Read more at http://2017.world-voice-day.org/

Author

Spread the love

Authors

Jeff Turner

MORE POSTS

group of business people communicating effectively

How Important Is That Impression to Meeting Your Goal?

How often do you think about your goal when you prepare for a high-stakes interaction? Is selling your company or product the goal? Are you looking to connect with potential partners or purchasers? Are you looking to build your personal brand and move upward in your career? Do you want to become a thought leader? Are you hoping to raise visibility for your company? Do you want to educate people about what your product can

Spread the love
Man holding up his hand to stop a one-on-one conversation

Don’t Tell People What They Want to Hear

One of the quickest ways for a leader to lose credibility is to start telling people what they want to hear. It usually begins with good intentions. You sense what someone values. You notice what they want the answer to be. And you shape the message to match it. In the moment, it can feel persuasive. But it isn’t persuasion. It’s manipulation. Real persuasion works differently. It doesn’t tell people what they want to hear.

Spread the love

How Well Do You Communicate? A Self-Assessment

How well do you communicate? For a brief self-assessment, ask yourself the following questions (and be honest!): Do you get along with all your coworkers, your boss, your direct reports? Is it easy to talk to them? Are you successful in working with any “challenging” coworkers (we all have one!)? Does everyone understand what you mean the first time? If you use AI to generate content, does following an AI script work well in conversation?

Spread the love

QUESTIONS? NEED HELP?

Tell us what’s on your mind:

    434 Old Connecticut Path  Suite 2B | Framingham (Boston), MA 01701 USA 

    Phone: +1 (617) 739-3330 | Email: [email protected]

    Copyright 2016-2026 The Speech Improvement Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.